To celebrate the hotel group’s 100th anniversary, Hilton has just unveiled what it believes will be the hotel in 100 years from now…

Intergalactic getaways, fast-food nutrient pills, two to three hour working days and adaptable, personalised rooms that can transport guests everywhere from jungles to mountain ranges; in celebration of its 100th anniversary, Hilton predicts the future trends set to dominate the travel and hospitality industry in the next 100 years.

In a report supported by expert insight from the fields of sustainability, innovation, design, human relations and nutrition, findings reveal how the growing sophistication of technology and climate change will impact the hotel industry in the future.

Key predictions for the hotel of the future include:

Personalisation is King

Technology will allow every space, fitting and furnishing to continuously update to respond to an individual’s real-time needs – the Lobby will conjure up anything from a tranquil spa to a buzzy bar, giving every guest the perfect, personal welcome

From temperature and lighting, to entertainment and beyond, microchips under the skin will enable us to wirelessly control the setting around us based on what we need, whenever we need it

The Human Touch

In a world filled with Artificial Intelligence, human contact and the personal touch will be more critical and sought after than ever

Technology will free up time for hotel staff to focus on what matters most: helping guests to connect with one another and building memorable moments

‘Sustainable Everything’ – The Role of Responsibility

Only businesses that are inherently responsible will survive the next century

Sustainability will be baked into everything about a hotel’s design – from weather-proofed domes, to buildings made from ocean-dredged plastic

Hotels will act as the Town Hall of any community, managing local resources and contributing to the areas they serve with community-tended insect farms and vertical hydroponic crop gardens

Menu Surprises and Personalisation

Our diets will include more plant-based recipes and some suprising sources of protein – Beetle Bolognese, Plankton Pies and Seaweed Green Velvet Cake will be menu staples!

Chefs will be provided with biometric data for each guest, automatically creating meals based on preferences and nutritional requirements

Futuristic Fitness and Digital Detoxes

Outswim a virtual sea turtle in the pool, or challenge yourself to climb the digital face of Mount Everest, your exercise routine will be as unique as you are. What’s more, exercise energy generated from workouts will be used to power the hotel, providing a zero-impact, circular system. Guests could even earn rewards based on reaching workout targets

Pick up where you left off with trackable workouts and holographic personal trainers

Offline will be the new luxury as we seek to find moments of tech-free time

“100 years from now hotels will have to create opportunities to converse, collaborate and connect, delivering moments that matter, individually, to each and every guest.” – Gerd Leonhard.

“Since its inception in 1919, Hilton has pioneered the hospitality industry, introducing first-to-market concepts such as air-conditioning and in-room televisions. Last year, Hilton also became the first hospitality company to set science-based targets to reduce its environmental impact,” commented Simon Vincent, EVP and President, EMEA, Hilton. “We enter our second century with the same commitment to innovation, harnessing the power of our people and technology to respond to guest demands. Our research paints an exciting future for the hospitality industry, highlighting the growing importance of human interaction in an increasingly tech-centric world.”

Futurologist Gerd Leonhard said: “In 2119 we will still be searching for unique experiences, but they will be more personalised than ever. As technology shapes our lives we will seek out moments of offline connection with others, including hotel team members who will help us truly get what we need from our stays. 100 years from now hotels will have to create opportunities to converse, collaborate and connect, delivering moments that matter, individually, to each and every guest.”

The report launches following major announcements regarding Hilton’s growth plans, including debuts among its lifestyle brands in destinations such as Africa, the Caribbean, Asia Pacific and France.

Corinthia Hotels has announced that it will open the brand’s first hotel in the Middle East. Due to launch in 2020, the contemporary beachfront hotel marks the beginning of ambitious expansion plans by the hotel group. Corinthia Meydan Beach Dubai will be located on the prestigious JBR beachfront, reflecting the enriching brand values for which Corinthia is known.

Working in partnership with Meydan Group, Corinthia Meydan Beach has been designed as a new beachfront resort and destination that will aim to reflect both the bliss of the beach and the excitement of the city.

“The energy, vision and quality of resources assembled for this project by Meydan means that this hotel is in the enviable position of offering the market something fresh and new.” – Matthew Dixon, Area Managing Director Middle East, Corinthia Hotels

Situated within Dubai Marina, overlooking a pristine stretch of white sand, the 55-storey hotel will be home to 360 guestrooms and suites. This beachfront landmark will be complete with cascading infinity pools, the region’s first ESPALife Spa and unforgettable culinary experiences. It’s also intelligently designed for spectacular views across to the Dubai Eye and Palm Jumeirah. Internationally renowned American design professionals AE7 have ensured each detail of the hotel has been meticulously considered to create a tribute to the region’s tradition of architectural grandeur and cultural traditions.

Image credit: Corinthia Hotels

“Corinthia Meydan Beach is an exciting addition to the region’s hospitality landscape, representing both a landmark milestone for us as a brand, and for Dubai,” said Corinthia’s Area Managing Director Middle East Matthew Dixon. “The energy, vision and quality of resources assembled for this project by Meydan means that this hotel is in the enviable position of offering the market something fresh and new; an interpretation of heritage, culture and service values that we feel have not yet been bought to the UAE. We are confident that this property will enhance the Corinthia brand in the region, brilliantly enhancing our existing portfolio.”

The existing Corinthia portfolio features the flagship Corinthia London, as well as award-winning Corinthia Hotels in Budapest, Malta, St Petersburg, Prague, Lisbon, Khartoum and Tripoli. From city-centre hotels to coastal resorts, each one is connected by a strong Corinthia philosophy. Inspired by its Mediterranean, family-run heritage, the brand is dedicated to providing uplifting moments, unforgettable experiences and exquisite service.

Design-led serviced apartments Cuckooz has collaborated with designers and sleep experts to launch the sleeping experience like no other… in the womb…

Launching today, Cuckooz has opened unlocked to a new sleeping experience by launching a guestroom that has been designed to resemble the womb.

The nine-month project, which resulted in The Zed Room being opened, was inspired by the safety and ‘snugness’ of the womb and comes complete with muted lighting, soft-pink walls and a high-tech mattress.

The aim of the collaboration between Cuckooz, Simba and Studio Stilton was to deliver a home away from home designed around the pursuit of sleep excellence by tackling the ‘first night effect’. The first night effect is a natural reaction discovered by scientists over a decade ago whereby one half of the brain acts as a ‘night watchman’ in unfamiliar surroundings – resulting in a poor night’s rest.

Located in Shoreditch, the Zed Rooms have been designed with experts meticulously developing the state-of-the-art boutique apartments using insights rooted in the science of sleep.

Designed to encourage REM-rich slumber – the type of sleep which increases brain activity, promotes learning and creates dreams, the rooms engage with every sensorial touchpoint of the body; constructing a holistic ecosystem that enhances sleep from the moment guests step through the door, helping them to power down, recharge and fight fatigue.

“The disruption of the accommodation sector, how we travel, where we stay and what we accept as the norm when spending time away from home has been a long time coming,” said co-founder of Cuckooz, Fabienne O’Neill.” At Cuckooz we strive to be at the forefront of innovation within the hospitality sector and to push the boundaries when it comes to guest experience. Design and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do, which is why the collaboration with Simba and Studio Stilton was such a natural progression for us.”

Muted lighting, opulent blackout blinds and sound absorbing curtains help to promote positivity and relaxation while muting the brains ‘red alert’ status in a new environment. Luxurious ethereal fabrics compliment artwork scented with fresh linen and the rooms are decked out with miniatures from Neom, a London-based fragrance company dedicated to wellbeing. Their ‘Scent to Sleep’ range uses a blend of 19 essential oils – including English lavender, sweet basil and jasmine – to help guests drift off.

“The sleep science isn’t confined to the bedroom. The living area has also been designed to put guests on the right track for a great night’s sleep.”

If that wasn’t enough, each of the serviced-apartments feature: restorative scents and colours that relax muscles, invoke calm and mimic the moonlight; air cleansing soporific plants to eliminate toxins; cutting-edge home automation and electronics designed to keep guest’s body clocks operating naturally and healing background harmonies to calm the automatic nervous system, the endocrine and psychological stress response.

Image credit: Simba/Cuckooz/ Billy Bolton

The sleep science isn’t confined to the bedroom. The living area has also been designed to put guests on the right track for a great night’s sleep.

“Sleep is an all-encompassing experience and every element matters. The Zed Rooms are an elaborate infrastructure of symbiotic components, geared entirely to honing quality sleep,” said sleep psychologist at Simba, Hope Bastine.

The furniture’s rounded edges and softened corners mimic the sensation of bed, and the rocking chairs are on hand to lull guests into a relaxed state of mind. The prints on the walls have also been chosen to be inspirational dream fodder and the Penthouse terrace comes complete with yoga mats, meditation sessions via the iPad’s Calm app and naked light bulbs to create a sense of simplicity.

Providing serviced accommodation goes far beyond a place to rest guests’ heads at night, it provides a comfortable, personalised option for those who simply don’t want to compromise the quality of their life style despite spending days, weeks even months away from home at a time, and that’s what we wanted to showcase with the Zed Rooms.

With the Independent Hotel Show around the corner, Hotel Designs took a sneak peek of one of the most anticipated unveilings of this year’s show. The hotel room of the future, conceived by Two’s Company Interior Design Ltd., has been designed around the concept that anything is possible…

Looking ahead to new possibilities, the founders of Two’s Company, Nick Sunderland and the President of the BIID* Gilly Craft have combined thoughts to design what they believe could very well be the hotel room of the future. With hidden technology and a ‘WOW’ bathroom, the conceptional representation will be unveiled on The Future stand at the Independent Hotel Show on October 16 – 17 at London’s Olympia.

The room will have a lounge area, bedroom and bathroom with all three spaces interconnected with clever tech elements throughout for a seamless, stress-free stay. Guests will be surrounded by intuitive design, multi-channel connectivity, sensor-led sleep support and in-room systems. From checking in to their sumptuous super- luxe room using thumb recognition or their phone, to being able to order room service via simple touch pads, or buy any item they like in the room with a quick tap on a nearby screen, the features bring to life what the future could look like in hotel design.

“Creating a room with 21st century technology, luxury, comfort and outstanding service for the guest are the challenges of today’s hotelier,” says Sunderland. “Research shows that technology is important on both sides but should not be invasive or difficult to use. It should be intelligent and responsive, integrated into the room. Seamless use of technology, in automatically updating housekeeping with individual requirements, for example, and a front of house that responds without intrusion or delay, is the aim. In addition, the guest requires comfort, elegance and style that is unique and individual.”

Subtle tech in the guestroom

Leading integrated technology experts Crestron and Smartcomm have developed the innovative features for the state-of-the-art hotel room. Expect no dials or knobs on walls, just discreet one-touch keypads for simple operations or the central touch screen to make bespoke adjustments for guests to control heating, lighting, air conditioning and much more.

“The bed’s pre-settings include ‘zero gravity mode’ where the guest’s legs are raised above the level of the heart for improved circulation and to relieve pressure on the lower back.”

The ultimate night’s sleep is a given with tech, scent and science incorporated into the design. The Simba bed has a six-axis motion base, amber lights in its footing that encourage the ‘alpha brainwave’ state preceding sleep, plus inbuilt lavender scent diffusers and air purifiers. The bed’s pre-settings include ‘zero gravity mode’ where the guest’s legs are raised above the level of the heart for improved circulation and to relieve pressure on the lower back. The integrated headboard by MRF incorporates two Corian side panels which feature wireless Corian Charging Surface technology that enables smart devices to be powered up directly through the table top.

Entertainment within hotel rooms is ever evolving. IP TV content is now standard across global hotels delivering content based upon geographic location, plus other popular global channels. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is now the norm, so the Hotel Room of The Future is set up so that content can be displayed on the TV and audio system via two screens.

A media wall built by Simon Waites from Waites Furniture faces the bed with a Samsung 49inch TV and Sonos bar linking to individual devices and enabling access to all services in the hotel with a single tap. The media wall reverse creates a private seating area and again houses a 49 inch Samsung TV and Sonos sound bar. A minibar, and safe from A3 Solutions and a Nespresso coffee system is hidden in the unit and a pull-out desk creates a flush system. Built into the side is another control panel accessing all room and hotel services. It overrides the TV to integrate the room with front of house and housekeeping and gives access direct to the concierge for any guest requests. The whole process linking services has been set up by Crestron and Smartcomm on three levels of programming. Luxe lighting by Heathfield in elegant brushed antique brass and satin black, is pre-programmed but can be adjusted by the guest.

The whole concept for the technology within the room enables guests to have as little or as much interaction with the room as they wish. The aim is to create a calming, no-hassle room that a guest can feel right at home in and truly relax for the ultimate hotel experience with the most efficient yet discreet hotel service.

The room tech could provide:

Welcome/Good morning with one touch to control lights, TV, audio

Good night – all media can be turned off, primed for next day – alarms set

Entertainment mode – dim lights, all audio off, curtain closed

Good bye – all off and primed for return

Or Standard mode as above with no requirement from the guest to make changes

Preference settings / pre-stored for regular guests, room profile already set up on check in

Cleaning request service, over and above the standard cleaning schedule

The smart hotel app from DL APP TAP

A great opportunity for hoteliers to offer guests add-on experiences, the DL APP TAP (Design Life App) is a new concept. Guests often want to buy luxury interior products they see and use whilst staying at a hotel. This clever App will make that a possibility, with sales handled via the App. By using near field communication (NFC) newly available to iOS devices, hotels can now brand their own App and start selling luxury items to their guests straight away. Guests can simply use their iPhone to tap the items they want and place them in their basket to checkout in-app or pay upon checking out. Plus, this App can be white labelled to the hotel’s own name and corporate identity.

WOW factor bathroom

The state-of-the-art bathroom with its Splinterworks Hammock bath and eco Axor Philippe Starck taps has its own subtle tech incorporated too for a totally luxe effect. A stylish, Switchable Privacy Glass panel from Smart Glass International can be adjusted by the guest from transparent to opaque in less than 0.01 seconds. They can appreciate the sheer beauty of the cool bathing area from their room, then switch to the privacy setting when they want to step in for a peaceful dip. The entire space is enhanced with translucent bathroom panels from CD UK- Corian®. Leading LED lighting technology specialists, ALL LED worked its magic by backlighting the panels to create a luminous glow throughout the space.

With facilities it’s all about speed and efficiency; the quicker a room can be turned around the faster it can be occupied again. Management want and need to understand their guests more; what they’re doing whilst at the hotel, what they’re using and why, and, of course, what they’re spending their money on. With the use of this seamless, inspiring technology all these things can be achieved in hotel rooms of the future.

This is one of the thought-provoking questions that will be addressed in an upcoming free webinar by Revinate, IDeaS, SiteMinder: ‘A.I. meets Human Hospitality’, scheduled for December 5th at 4:00pm GMT.

The session will explore the key findings of an industry panel held during this year’s World Travel Market show in London, in which we looked ahead 25 years and explored how the guest experience will change due to the technological advances that we are currently seeing.

The webinar will also tackle questions such as ‘how does the future of human hospitality look like?’, ‘what are the possibilities of robotisation in hotels?’, ‘what should we expect from hotel technology in the far future?’ and ‘will human hospitality be enough to stop robots from taking over?’.

To offer insights on this hot topics, the webinar will feature Monica Or, founder of Star Quality Hospitality Consultancy. With over 25 years of hospitality experience, Monica is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and has been hair for the Institute of Hospitality London, serving on their committee for five years.

As an accomplished speaker and author, she has spoken at international hotel conferences including The Independent Hotel Show in London and COTELCO in Colombia.

She has also been featured in The Caterer, Boutique Hotelier and Hospitality Magazine and writes monthly articles for Hotel Industry Magazine as their industry expert.

Monica is an Amazon best-selling author for her two books ‘Star Quality Hospitality – The Key to a Successful Hospitality Business’ and ‘Star Quality Experience – The Hotelier’s Guide to Creating Memorable Guest Journeys’.

As the global hospitality marketplace evolves and travelers’ preferences shift, what are the future trends that hotel designers need to anticipate? And how can we be visionary in our approach to each and every assignment? Rob Skyes, senior associate WATG shares his thoughts…

Our industry constantly yearns for innovation, with each hotel brand and independent operator seeking ways in which they can differentiate themselves to gain their own unique space in a very crowded marketplace. However, ‘out of the box’ thinking must always be balanced with economic pragmatism. Ultimately, hotels, as a real estate asset class, are challenging. Any investment risk must be justified by the requisite financial rewards.

Hospitality industry experts first started talking about brand proliferation in the mid-1990s. Over the years, we have seen a torrent on independent innovators and brand extensions from the major operators. Indeed, today, the big six hotel companies hold an incredible 90 brands between them. With such saturation in the marketplace, our clients are asking us one key question: How can we differentiate to get ahead?

Trends of the last five years include themes such as the rise of ‘localised’ design, trendy independent ‘lifestyle’ hotels and animated public areas. But what concepts are currently on our drawing boards at integrated hospitality design firm, WATG, that will be entering the market in the next few years?

Hospitality trends and influences: A healthy obsession Across the generations we have become preoccupied with our personal wellbeing – boomers strive to hold back the ravages of time, millennials aim to optimise their personal fitness. Our lives are jam-packed with wearables, apps, healthy-eating blogs, fitness mash-ups and endless pop-ups to lure us into the belief that if we become disciples we can live forever.

Yet, the hotel sector, with a few notable exceptions, lags behind such innovations. Hotel fitness facilities remain largely traditional in nature. This has to change. That said, we do have some interesting brand combos and extensions happening. Equinox, the high end fitness operator is moving boldly into the hotel arena with its first property opening in New York in 2018. Likewise, 1 Hotel Miami Beach has teamed up with Soul Cycle to offer popular spin classes’ at the hotel.

But as consumers demand more bespoke fitness and wellness routines and a more experiential approach to the tedium of exercise, hotels and resorts will need to become more experimental and absorb some of the entrepreneurial ideas spinning around the fitness and beauty market.

We do not see a future of robot services and virtual reality experiences. Technology is expensive and quickly becomes dated. First-class hospitality will always require the ‘human touch’. Particularly true of resorts, consumers will increasingly seek to reconnect with nature, spend quality time with loved ones and return to ‘the simple life’. These principles are driving our designs of late; a return to analogue rather than digital. That said, there will of course be ways to utilize technology to enhance the guest experience. But we see these as subtle touches, rather than drastic interventions.

We experience ever-growing pressure, from both developers and consumers, for environmentally responsible and ‘resilient’ hotels and resorts. Many land owners we work with have a genuine commitment to stewardship, and we see this as integral to the enduring success of a project. Therefore, we must stay ahead of the curve regarding new construction techniques, the create reuse or ‘up-cycling’ of materials, and landscape design innovations that will help us deliver low-impact, yet beautiful hotels. In essence, we see our role as a master-craftsman of destinations, rather than ‘just another design firm’.

The trend away from the cookie-cutter hotel experience will gather pace. Developers will progressively ask us to define niche hospitality concepts. These will be bespoke to the demands of very specific and evolving target markets. Design concepts will focus increasingly on generational consumer and technology trends and the nuances in habits of specific geographic source markets. Unique, tailored hotel concepts tend to gain industrywide attention and despite their targeted strategy, often end up as part of the mainstream.

Rob Sykes is a Senior Associate on the global strategy team with WATG. This article consolidates the thinking of WATG’s design teams in London and Singapore, covering architecture, interior design and landscape. WATG designers Tony Menezes, Kevin Scholl, Nicole Hammond, John Paul Pederson, John Goldwyn, Edouard Gillon, Christine McGinnis, and Tom Williams took part in the two cross-functional working groups, along with Rob Sykes.

About WATGWATG is a leading integrated design firm, ranked second in the world among hotel architectural firms. WATG’s interior design firm, Wimberly Interiors, was ranked 10th by Interior Design Magazine in their 2016 Hospitality Giants survey.